There is a reason the Indiana Fever has Kelsey Mitchell’s signature as ‘No.1 priority’.

The vet anchored a broken team to almost carry them to the finals, averaging 20.2 points and 3.4 assists on her way to her third straight All-Star and WNBA first team selection. After years of losing seasons and playing under multiple coaches, she is finally finding her groove and getting the recognition she deserves. And now that the season is wrapped up, Mitchell looked back at the hardships she endured and what kept her going. 

“I’m serious, when we look to my left and we lost Syd, and I look to my right, we lost Caitlin, and I look up, we lost somebody else, and I look down, and I’m like, damn, where’s Sophie at? And so it was just a matter of like,  having to maintain a sense of sacrifice. It was the ultimate sacrifice I had to make. I’m making it a million times over. It was special because we didn’t have a lot of ego in our program, in our organization, and so when I did look to the bench when the playoffs happened, I had support.” Mitchell said at a recent forum discussion.

We already know that, after not making the postseason since 2016, the Indiana team finally made it for the first time last year. That was partly because of Caitlin Clark’s arrival. But this time, Mitchell did not have Clark’s service from the point guard. Despite being constantly double-teamed because every elite shooter other than her was on the sidelines, she did everything she could. In the brief time Fever were without a point guard, Mitchell even slid into the PG role without any complaints.

While we don’t talk about it much, let’s not overlook the fact that a player of her caliber could have easily asked for a trade, and teams would be lining up for her signature. Instead, she battled through and succeeded with whatever she had, something the fans can’t help but admire, especially after she herself opened up about “the sacrifice.” 

Kelsey Mitchell’s Candid Confession Sparks Wave of Respect

“@Kelz_Hoop literally carried this team “until the wheels fell off.” Thank you, Kelz,” wrote a fan. Fever fans believe Kelsey Mitchell would have won them the ring. She was absolutely looking like a woman on a mission up until her body just couldn’t take it anymore. She collapsed during the third quarter of the do-or-die Game 5 against the Aces and was immediately hospitalized. Later on, she revealed that she suffered from “Rhabdomyolysis,” in which her muscles stopped producing and reached their maximum capacity. This gritty nature has naturally earned Mitchell even more fans. 

“Kels’ humility makes her unstoppable, she has the spirit in her, it’s a beautiful spirit!! Love this team so much,” penned another fan. As mentioned before, Mitchell had every reason to look elsewhere, especially during those tough, single-digit win seasons, yet she chose to stay loyal to the team that drafted her. Despite being the torchbearer of the side, she praises her teammates every chance she gets. Something that makes her a true role model. Her 2025 exploits earned a special demand from this fan. 

“Mitchell should never have to buy a drink in Indianapolis the rest of her life,” announced a fan. Indeed, once it’s all said and done, Mitchell has a solid case to be among Indiana Fever legends like Tamika Catchings, Katie Douglas, and others. A fourth user had a super sweet take we all love Mitchell for.

Ego is something elite athletes feel they need to have. And to some extent, that is true. Without believing you are better than the opponents, players can’t push boundaries in their game. However, that often seeps into their character off the court. The Fever star is a beast on the court, dominating her opponents while maintaining her attitude off it, a rare sight for a top athlete. Yes, she is missing a ring, but her 2025 season was something we haven’t seen before.

As for a championship, Mitchell still has time to get one. Considering Clark is coming back next season, the trio of Boston, Mitchell, and Clark could contend for the title. That is assuming Mitchell stays in Fever. However, she has earned the respect of some regardless of which jersey she wears. “You’ll always have a fan in me, Kelsey ❤️” wrote a fan. There’s no doubt that Mitchell is arguably among the most likable players in the league. Her terrifying handles make for an entertaining game, and her off-court demeanor is hard to dislike even for rivals.